Homily from Fr. Brandon Mass at 10:30am at 04-26-2020

One thing that strikes me in today’s Gospel is how the disciples fail to recognize Jesus. You would think that, after spending so much time with Him, they would be able to recognize Him immediately. But no, not until sharing Himself in the breaking of the bread were they able to see Him. They had to learn to see Him in light of a dramatic change, in light of the Resurrection.

We too, in our day with all the dramatic changes that we currently face with this COVID – 19 outbreak, are learning to recognize and see Jesus in new ways.

One blessing that we may take from this time of shelter in place, and our inability to attend our regular Sunday liturgies, is the renewed awareness that Jesus is not confined to the Church building, he doesn’t want to occupy just a small corner of our lives for one hour once a week.

These days have hopefully allowed us some space to see that Jesus is everywhere, and wants to walk with us into all the day to day activities of our lives. Jesus lives with us in our homes, he accompanies us as we go to work, he is alive and guiding us in our relationships with others. Jesus is our companion, not only for one hour a week and in one building in town, the Church…no, Jesus never leaves our side. These weeks have been hard, no doubt, but they have not been without God and His blessing. Maybe one such blessing is a deepened awareness of God’s presence in all the corners of our world and lives. Look for His presence and signs of His love in everything you do this week.

Note from the Pastor 04-25-2020

Good afternoon good people of St. Anne’s!

This week’s note is more of an invitation than it is a reflection.

I was blessed to be a part of a “zoom” meeting this past week with our Bishop and a number of other Parish leaders from around the Diocese. In the meeting, Parish leaders shared all sorts of wonderful ideas for creative ministry during the COVID – 19 pandemic. One of the ideas that I really liked came from St. Bernadette’s in Stockton. Parishioners have been asked to send in pictures of their families at prayer, and as soon as the request went out numerous photos began pouring in: families praying the rosary, families attending a zoom Mass, families reading scripture together, families singing together, etc. The Parish has started a bit of an online “scrap book”, and I thought why not do the same here at St. Anne’s.

So this next week, if you would like and are able, please send us pictures of special prayer memories that you are making with your family during these unusual times. You can email pictures to parishoffice@stanneslodi.org. We will put them together in an online “scrap book” under the COVID section of our website.

This activity not only helps us to be mindful that we are part of a larger family of faith, it also reminds us that no matter the challenge, Jesus will never be taken from our lives.

Have a blessed week! Fr. Brandon

P.S. Please check out our "How to Stream Masses" page for recently added prayer opportunities. We are going to begin offering more “zoomed” liturgies in the weeks to come.

Note from the Pastor 04-19-2020 Divine Mercy Sunday

When the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews…

Over the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to spend a bit more time on the phone talking with some of our parishioners. Even though I don’t consider myself much of a “phone person”, I have enjoyed these conversations very much.

One of the things that has struck me, sort of a recurrent theme in my conversations, is the sense of fear that people are feeling during these days of COVID – 19. People indicate to me that they are afraid, and afraid for a variety of reasons: will I contract the COVID virus; will one of my loved ones contract the virus; will I give the virus to someone; will I still have a job; will I be able to practice my religion; will I be able to see my loved one who is dying, etc.. People are afraid, and naturally so, during these very unusual days. Simply put, their sentiment is this -- “If I go outside, what is going to happen to me?”

The disciples suffered in a similar way. These were the men and women most closely associated with Jesus, and these would have been the folks targeted for persecution. In fear of what the future held, they gathered together and locked themselves away… “if we go outside, what will happen to us?”

Their fear, however, cannot prevent the Lord’s entry into their midst. Jesus “breaks through”, if you will, their wall of fear and offers them this powerful greeting and gift, “Peace be with you.” The 5th century Saint, Cyril of Alexandria, remarks that “by peace Jesus meant himself, for Christ’s presence always brings tranquility of soul”. Jesus gives to His disciples the one thing that can free them from the chains of fear, God and friendship with Him.

As our leaders prepare, in the weeks ahead, to enact the President’s three phased plan to reopen the Nation, we may experience a renewed sense of fear: is it too soon; what if there is a second wave; what if the virus spreads even faster the next time, etc….“If I go outside, what is going to happen to me?”

The disciples did not know exactly what would happen to them once they left the confines of their fear-filled chamber, but they were able to overcome that fear because of their friendship with Jesus. We also don’t know exactly what the future has in store for us, but we know that we are not alone. Jesus walks with us just as much as He did with those early disciples. In friendship with Him, then, we are able to emerge, as directed by National and State leaders, in Peace.

Note from the Pastor 4-12-2020 Easter

As I walked Ana the other day, I think it was my fourth walk of the day, I found myself marveling at the genius of the men and women in our Country’s healthcare system. I was especially mindful of how extraordinary it is that we can take someone who has overcome COVID -19, extract their blood, analyze their antibodies, and pass those antibodies on to others who may not be doing as well, I think it is called convalescent plasma therapy.

Because of our extraordinary medical professionals, a recovered COVID patient is able to say, in essence “I took the virus into my body, I beat it, and now I am going to pass on to you the strength that you need to beat it as well”. Such a marvel! Thanks be to God for our healthcare professionals! We will offer our Mass for them in a special way.

Today, as we focus on Jesus’ Resurrection, I think what I would like us to do is to think of this extraordinary event in a similar way…think of the Resurrection as spiritual plasma convalescent therapy. Jesus took into His body the most deadly “virus” of all time, and here think in terms of eternity – Jesus took Sin/Death into his very flesh and destroyed it. Now He says to us, I am going to pass on to you the strength that you need to beat it as well.

Today we are mindful, then, of healing and life. We have hopeful signs on the temporal horizon of our lives; this COVID – 19 pandemic will come to an end…but even more, today we are mindful of the eternal horizon of our lives, and the everlasting hope that Jesus gives. Sin does not have the final word, death will not be our ultimate end. For all those who know and love Jesus, in His Resurrection, we can confidently look forward to an eternity of peace.

Note from the Pastor 04-10-2020 Good Friday

Some years ago, in a Good Friday meditation, Pope Benedict XVI reflected upon Grunewald’s Isenheim Altarpiece. The Pope called it "the most moving painting of the crucifixion to be found in all of Christendom,” and if you have not had a chance to see the image, a Google search might be worth your time.

Painted in the 16th century for the monks of St. Anthony Monastery, a community of religious dedicated to caring for sick peasants, the artist, Matthias Grunewald, sought to depict Christ as a fellow sufferer of pestilence. Jesus’ body, hanging from the Cross, is covered with open and festering sores, as would have been all too common amongst people of the Colmar region who frequently suffered from ergotism, a condition caused by the ergot fungus that plagued grains grown in the region during this time. As a person gazed upon Matthias’ work, they would have been reminded of two things: 1) that they were not alone in their suffering, that Jesus was walking the path with and in them, and 2) that their suffering, when united to Christ, was not in vain but rather was a path that led to eternal glory.

These two lessons, I suppose, could not be more timely for us today. In the middle of this COVID-19 outbreak and the concomitant “shelter in place” order, we too are tempted to feel isolated and alone. The Grunewald image, and today’s celebration of Good Friday, reminds us that we are not. Jesus has walked the road of suffering and walks it again with and in us today. We are not alone--Jesus is with us.

Additionally, the Isenheim Altarpiece reminds us that the suffering we and the world now endure are not in vain. Jesus’ path led through suffering to eternal glory. Our paths, when united to His, will also wind through the darkness of this moment and into the light of the Resurrection.

So as we continue to make our way through this pandemic, as we continue with our Lord today, this Good Friday, in His journey to the Cross, maybe we ask the Holy Spirit to help us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Easter joy that is promised to all those who love Jesus.

Note from the Pastor 04-09-2020 Holy Thursday

Over the past few weeks, I have been responsible for taking groceries up to my parents. They are moving into their senior years, and with COVID-19 hitting seniors especially hard, my sisters and I decided that we would take over this responsibility for them.

This change of pace has been especially difficult for my mom. As I drop food off at their house she will say things like, “You kids shouldn’t be doing this; we can do our own shopping; it is just not right; this makes me very sad,” and so on. (Once she even blurted out to me, “I hate this!”---she makes me giggle!)

It must be hard for a parent, one who has always provided for her children, to embrace this type of change. I try to remind her, however, that she is actually giving me a gift. In letting me and my sisters serve her, she is letting us experience the joy of becoming ever more like God.

What do I mean?

I look at acts of service like delivering groceries to another through the lens of today’s Gospel passage. Jesus, who is God, gets down on his knees in order to serve his disciples. He then goes on to tell them, "as I have done for you, you should also do." Being a disciple of Jesus is a living in Him, or allowing Him to live in us. He is one who serves, and when we open ourselves to the same, it is He who shines through.

Bringing groceries to my parents is a little thing, but a little thing filled with tremendous power, the power to become ever more like God. Why wouldn’t my parents, or any one of us, want to extend such opportunities to those that we love?

During these challenging days, look for ways to serve another…and maybe allow yourself to be served. Not only will such acts help sustain others in this moment of trial, but they will also fill you with the joy of becoming ever more like God.

Note from the Pastor 04-04-2020

As we face these days of uncertainty, these days of COVID-19 and “shelter in place,” we too may be experiencing a sense of isolation and even abandonment. “How could God allow this?" we might wonder.

A question, however, comes to mind: was Jesus ever truly alone?

As Jesus hangs dying on the Cross, totally abandoned by the world, what are the historic words that he utters? “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." Though the entire world may have turned its back on Him, Jesus was in communion with the Father. Despite appearances, Jesus was never alone.

As the uncertainty of these days weighs heavily upon us, the Gospel reminds us that the Father, who never left Jesus’ side, will not leave ours either. Jesus was never alone and neither are we. No matter the darkness, no matter the appearance, the Father is here. Stay close to Him this week in your prayer!

Note from the Pastor 4-1-2020

Good Afternoon Good People of St. Anne’s,

I wanted to share with you sort of a practical note about what is going on here at the Parish with our Office.

In sum, all is going very well thanks to our Lord and the very talented Administrator and Team that He has blessed us with. Donna and the members of our Team are deeply committed to the people of the Parish and are developing creative strategies for keeping the Office “open”, remotely, during this current shelter in place order.

Let me list for you a few examples of what we will continue to offer to our Parishioners in the weeks ahead…

Catechism classes

St. Anne’s School continues via virtual classrooms

Bookkeeping and bill payment

Phone calls to the Office will be answered, remotely

“Funeral type” services are still being offered

Liturgies celebrated, privately at the moment, but recorded on YouTube in the days to come…

The list could go on. What a tremendous Team!

In addition to the above offerings, we have also identified a few areas in the budget where we can trim our monthly expenses. For example, we are…

Cancelling our use of outside cleaning vendors

Reducing our Waste Management expenses

Cutting overall energy costs as our buildings lie dormant

We will continue to look for cost saving measures, as well as ways in which our Team can be of service to the community. Your suggestions, and any financial support you are able to give to the parish during these challenging days, is very much appreciated. (Checks can be mailed to PO Box 480, 95241)

Though the past couple of weeks have been intense, St. Anne’s will emerge on the other side of this challenge a community ever more united in the love of Jesus Christ!